Objective: To observe the efficacy of Tibetan medicine modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San for rats with adjuvant arthritis and its effect on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)

tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)

interleukin-1 (IL-1)

and epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in serum of the rats. Method: The 10 rats were randomly selected from 60 SD healthy rats as normal group

and the other rats were used to induce the adjuvant arthritis (AA) models by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). The animal models were randomized into model group

dexamethasone group (0.150 mg·kg-1

ig)

modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San high dose group (104.00 g·L-1)

middle dose group (52.00 g·L-1) and low dose group (26.00 g·L-1). Yaoyu groups received medicated bath of 40℃ for 30 min every day

while the model group and normal group received lukewarm bath of 40℃ for 30 min every day for 4 weeks. The efficacy of modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San for AA rats was evaluated according to toes' swelling degree and the pathological changes of ankle synovium. The indexes of thymus and spleen in rats were measured

and ELISA Assay was used to detect NF-κB

TNF-α

IL-1 and EGF levels in serum. Result: As compared with the normal group

the AA rats in model group had higher swelling degree in inflammatory side

with thickening of synovial cells

macrophage proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration

and NF-κB

TNF-α

IL-1 and EGF levels in serum were significantly increased while the spleen indexes and thymus indexes were significantly reduced (P < 0.05

P < 0.01). As compared with the model group

inflammatory side swelling

the thickening of synovial cells

macrophage proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration could be improved in dexamethasone group and modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San high dose group

with significantly reduced levels of NF-κB

TNF-α

IL-1 and EGF in serum (P < 0.05

P < 0.01);NF-κB level was also significantly reduced in serum of modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San middle dose group (P < 0.05). There was no obvious change in EGF levels in serum of rats in various modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San groups;the spleen indexes owere significantly increased in various dose groups (P < 0.05)

while the thymus indexes were significantly increased in high dose group and middle dose group (P < 0.05

P < 0.01). Conclusion: Tibetan medicine modified Wuwei Ganlu Yaoyu San can effectively reduce the swelling at inflammatory side

and improve the pathomorphology of the synovial membrane of adjuvant arthritis rats. The high dosage group achieved most obvious effect

and the mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of NF-κB

TNF-α and IL-1 in serum and regulating thymus and spleen functions.